Roman Eye Beads Strand

Product Description: This is a strand of Roman Eye Beads dating back to ancient Rome.

Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)

Size:

• Length: 98cm
• Size of the central bead: 17mm x 13mm

Please note: As this is an antique item, it may have scratches, cracks, or chips.

About Roman Eye Beads:

Era: 100 BCE to 300 CE

Origin: Alexandria (modern-day Egypt)

Technique: Core-wound application (a method where molten glass is wound around a metal rod coated with a release agent, with additional colored glass applied in a polka dot pattern)

The term "Roman Glass" refers to glass crafted during the ancient Roman period and the Sasanian Empire. Ancient Roman merchants, who were avid traders of glassware, created beads in various designs to cater to the preferences of their buyers.

Among these, beads with eye-like patterns are known as Eye Beads. These were believed to possess protective powers and were a recreation of ancient Phoenician beads, which were used centuries before ancient Rome. The fact that ancient Romans admired even older beads shows that the history of beads is indeed intertwined with the history of humanity.